Supporting clip



Feb.V 25, 1947. E, M MOREHOUSE Re. 22,846

SUPPORTING CLIP Original Filed June 8; 1942 M oreizazwe.

Reissued F eb. 25,k 1947 SUPPORTING CLIP Eugene M. Morehouse, Tujunga, Calif., assigner to Adel Precision Products Corp., a corporation of California Original No. 2,352,856, dated July 4, 1944, Serial No. 446,301, `inne 8, 1942. Application for reissue July 7, 1944, Serial No. 543,891

19 Claims.

This invention relates to clips for supporting conduit 'lines in aircraft.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a conduit-supporting clip which may be detachably clamped under tension on the conduit to be supported, either before or after the clip is secured to a support such as a metallic structural part of the aircraft adjacent to which part the conduit extends, whereby the installa-v tion of the clips and the removal of conduit lines from the clips are greatly facilitated, it being unnecessary to remove the screw or bolt used to fasten the clip on the support nor the clip in order to open the clip and remove the conduit, nor necessary to rely on the screw or bolt in any manner for effecting the clamping of the clip around the conduit.

Another object of my invention is to provide a conduit-supporting clip Such a-s hereinbefore described wherein a conduit-embracing cushion of compressible insulation material is carried by the metal strap for damping vibrations, electrically insulating the conduit line from the metal strap, also preventing chang and Wear of the strap and conduit.

A further object is to provide a cushioned clip of the character described in which is embodied an electrically conductive bonding strip for discharging static electricity from the conduit line through the strip and metal strap into the metallic frame structure of the airplane,

Heretofore in this art clips have been clamped around the conduit and secured to a support by means of a bolt or screw passed through apertured ends of the strap, thus necessitating a joint operation of clamping the clip on the conduit and mounting the clip on the aircraft framework. In order to remove or replace a conduit supported in this manner it is necessary to remove the screws or bolts and then remove the clips from the support.

With clips embodying the present inventionl it is possible to securely clamp the clips on the conduit before moving the latter into position to be supported on the aircraft framework, or the clips may be fastened to the framework and then clamped on the conduit, inA either case with a saving in time and labor compared to former methods.

Another object of my invention is to provide a clip of the character described in which cooperating fastening elements entirely independent of the fastening used to support the clip are subject to a quick and easy hooked engagement with one another and s0 maintained under tension for effecting a tensioned clamping of the strap and' cushion around the conduit, While being subject to being readily Sprung apart by :a suitable prying tool to open the clip and release the conduit.,

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as mayA subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of 'parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated by way of example in the. accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a clip embodying my invention as installed;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the clip as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section-al View taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective 0f the clip when open;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the clip as. when clamped around the conduit before the clip u is mounted on the framework of the aircraft.

Referring to` the drawing more specifically, A designates a clip embodying my invention, B represents a metal structural p-art or frame part of an aircraft, and C a conduit supported by the clip.

In accordance with my invention the clip A includes a bendable and resilient metal strap I adapted to encircle the conduit C and having an outwardly extended comparatively straight and apertured end portion 2 whereby a screw or like fastening Sinay be employed to secure said end portion to the supporting structure B of the aircraft and thereby support the clip thereon.

An important improvement of my invention is the provision of fastening means apart from the fastening 3, for detachably securing the clip on the conduit in tensioned engagement therewith, either before or after the clip` is secured to the airplane structure B.

As here provided the fastening means consists of elements on the ends of the metal strap I which are subject to being readily hooked together with a suitable plier-like tool, not shown, and as readily detached with any prying instrument, also not shown, for forcing said elements apart, Said elements having tensioned engagement when Servto clamp the clip on the conduit.

One practicable construction arrangement of these fastening elements consists in bending the end portion 2 back on itself as at 2a with an aperture in said bent back portion to coincide with aperture in the portion 2 as best shown in Fig. 4. The inner end of this bent back portion is exas shown in Figs. 1 and 2 when the clip is clampedon the conduit. A portion 1 of the strap is bent back between the lugs E to lie upon the outer faceV of the strap as an abutment or gripping piece for the plier-like tool used to bring the lugs 5 and E into hooked or interlocked engagement with one another. The portion 'I alsol serves as a locking lug between the lugs 5 to prevent the lugs 6 from sliding or slipping sidewise from contact with lugs 5.

The flange 4 may be provided with an opening 8 to facilitate the gripping of said extension by the aforesaid tool during the operation of hooking the lugs 5 and 6 together.

It will be observed with reference to Fig. 4 that whenr the clip is open the conduit may be inserted therein after which by means of a tool such as aforementioned or otherwise, ,the ends of the strap I are forced into position to cause the lugs 6 to hook behind the lugs 5 as'shown in Fig. 2, thereby .clamping the clip on the conduit. The strap I is so tensioned and the lugs 5 and 6 so disposed that they may be fastened by springing the end carrying the lugs E under the flange 4 as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, the lugs 6 being forced by the spring action of the strap I into tensioned contact with the lugs 5.

It will be understood that the clip may be clamped in this manner on the conduit before or after it is secured to the structure B, inasmuch as the lugs 5 and 6 are spaced well inwardly from said screw and so arranged that said lugs and the screw may be independently operated without interference.

Depression of the end of the strap carrying the lugs E, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, will permit of disengaging or unhooking said lug to open the clip, as shown in Fig. 4, thereby releasing the conduit. i

It is preferable to employ a cushion strip 9 or resilient material for damping vibrations in theY conduitl` lines, preventing abrasion of the line and strap and also electrically insulating the strap from the conduit line. As here shown, this cushion is provided with a T-slot I to accommodate the strap I and which forms flanges II for embracing the strap and holding the cushion thereon. This cushion is under compression when the clip is clamped on the conduit, thereby increasing the tensioned contact of the interlocked lugs and 6.

The'clip of my invention further includes a thin, flexible metal bonding strip I2, a portion I2a ofwhich overlies a large part of the conduit engaging face of the cushion while a portion I2b is clamped between the bent back portion 2a and end portion 2 and thus permanently bonded to the strap I as best shown in Fig. 2. In this connection it should benoted that the bonding strip may be welded or otherwise fixed in bonding connection with the strap.

The bent back portion 2a and the flange portion 4Hthereon afford a resilient action for the fastening lugs 5 to insure a tensioned yet secure interlocking of lugs 5 and 6 with one another and facilitate the operation of hooking and unhoob ing said lugs.

4 It is important to note that the lugs 5 are disposed well below the apertures and screw 3 in the end portions 2 and 2a, while also being well outwardly spaced from said end portions, thereby making it possible to have ready access to both sets of lugs for securing and `releasing them.

It should be noted that the clip yof my invention may be used to advantage as a harness for supporting a group of wires.

While vI have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction set forth, and the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

f I claim:

1.` In a supporting clip, a resilient metal strap having a portion for supportingly embracing a conduit or a group of wires, separate end portions forming parts of said strap, means embodied in one of said end portions affording the aflixation thereof to a support independent of the other end portion, and hook elements arranged on said end portions so that when initially hooked together they will have tensioned contact with one another while the strap embraces the conduit or wires before or after said end portion is se'- cured to the support, said affixed end portion being doubled back on itself and having certain of the hook elements formed on the inner extremity of said doubled back portion.

2. In a supporting clip, a resilientv metal strap having `a portion for supportingly embracing a conduit or a group of wires, separate end portions forming parts of said strap, one of said end portions being bent back on itself and pro,- vided with aligned apertures for a fastening member to secure said one end portion to a support independent of the other end portion; an outwardly extended inner end on said bent back portion, spaced hooks on said outwardly extended inner end; and spaced hooks on the other end of said strap which when initially engaged with the rst'named hooks provide a tensioned clamping of the strap on said conduit or group of wires. 3,. In a supporting clip, a resilient metal strap having a portion for supportingly embracing a conduit or a group of wires, separate end portions forming parts of said strap, one of said end portions being bent back on itself and provided with aligned apertures for a fastening member to secure said one end portion to a support independent of the other end portion; an outwardly extended inner end on'said bent back portion, spaced hooks on said outwardly extended inner end, spaced hooks on the other end of said strap which when initially engaged with the first named hooks provide a tensioned clamping of the strap on said conduit or group of wires; and a lug on said other end adapted to be disposed between said hooks when the latter are hooked together, to prevent lateral displacement thereof.

4. In a supporting clip, a, resilient metal strap having a portion for supportingly embracing a conduit or agroup of wires, separate end portions forming parts of said strap, one of said end portions being bent back on. itself and provided withaligned apertures for a fastening member to secure said one end portion to a support independent of the other end portion; an outwardly extended inner end on said bent back portion, spaced'hooks on said outwardly extended inner end, spaced hooks on the other end of said strap which when initially engaged with the rst namedhooks provide a tensionedclampingof the strap on said conduit or. group: of. wires; and-a lug ori-said other end adapted. to-be disposed between said hooks when .the latter are hooked together to prevent lateral displacement thereof, said outwardlyA extended inner endY having an opening thereinfaffording a grip. for. a tool which is also engaged with said lug to effect the engagement of said hooks with onev another.

5.. In a. supporting, clip, a. resilient metal4 strap having ay portion for supportingly embracing a conduit or a group of wires, separate end portions forming parts of vsaid strap,v means embodied in oneof. said end: portions affording the aflixation thereof toi a support independent. of the other` end portion, and hook elements1 arranged on said end portions so that when initially hooked` together they willshave tensioned contact with one another toy secure the-clip to the conduit or wires before or after` said end. portion is secured .to the, support; and a conduit-embracing cushion of resilient material on said conduit' embracing portion of said strap arranged to be compressed when. said hook elements are initially hooked together.

6. In a supporting clip, a resilient metal strap having a generally circular portion for supportingly embracing a conduit or group of wires, and separate end portions forming parts of said strap, one of said end portions having a back run which is a substantially tangential continuation of the circular part of the strap, said run terminating in a" part which. isl forwardly bent over upon itself to form a front run, there being an aperture through the doubled over metal to receive f means for fastening the clip to a. support, said front run having its termin-a1 portion directed forwardly a short distance and then ending in a forwardly positioned hook having a down,- wardly directed terminal portion, said strap having a free opposite end po-rtion carrying a hook with an open side directed away" from the conduit embracing part of the strap. and positioned to be moved upwardlyv and forwardly into an interlocking relation to the aforesaid downwardly directed portion at the opposite end of the strap.

7. In a supporting clip, a resilient metal 'strap having a generally circular portion for supportingly embracing a conduit or group of wires and separate end portions forming parts of said strap, one of said end portions hav-ing a back run which is a substantially tangential continuation of the circular part of the strap, said. run terminating in a part which is forwardly bent over uponitself to form a front run, there being an aperture through the doubled over metal to receive means for fastening the clip to a support, said front run having its terminal portion directed forwardly a short distance and then ending in a plurality of lugs which are backwardly inclined, the opposite end portion of the strap having formed upon it a hook positionable back of said lugs to maintain the clip in conduit embracing position, the last recited end portion of said strap carrying also a locking lug which occupies the space between the first recited lugs when said hook is in its operative position.

8. In a supporting clip for a conduit or wires, a resilient metal strap having a generally circular conduit or wire embracing portion and separate portions extending outwardly from the circular portions in normally spaced relation to one another and adapted to be hooked together to close the clip and clamp it around the conduit or wires, said strap having means .therein affording the application thereto, of a fastening for securing the clip to a support with an outer surface of. one ofv said outwardly extending portions abutting the support,y andA meansembodied in the free endsl of said outwardly extending portions for releasably hooking them together toclose theY clip. and clamp it around the'conduits or wires before securing the clip to the` support, including a hook formed by bending inwardly toward the 4circular portion, the free end of the strap adjoining said support-abutting portion;vv the free end of .the other outwardly extending portion ofl .the strap arrangedso that when pressed directly inwardly in a directionnormalto the axis of the conduit or wires in the, clip.Y and against the outer face of said. hook it will: be moved; downwardly on said face and under the bill ofthe hook and then snap upwardly intohooked engagement with: said hook.

9. In a supporting clip for a, conduit or Wires, a resilient metal strap having a, generally circular conduit o-r wire embracing portion and separate portions extending outwardly from the circular portions in normally spaced relation to one another and, adapted' to behooked together to close the clip and clamp it around the conduit or wires, y

said strap having means therein affording the application thereto of' a fastening for securing the clip-to a. support with an outer surface of one f of said outwardly extending portions abutting the support, and means embodied in the free ends of said outwardly extending portions for releasably hooking them together to close the clip and clamp it aroiuid the conduits or wires befo-re securing the clip to the support, including a hook formed by bending inwardly toward the circular portion, the free end of the strap adjoining said supportabutting'` portion; the free end of the other outwardly extending portion of the strap arranged so that when pressed directly inwardly in a direction normal tothe axis of the conduit or wires in the Iclip and: against the outer face of said hook, it will be moved downwardly on said face and under the .bill of thehook and then snap upwardly into hooked engagement with said hook, and an elastic cushion mounted onsaid circular portion as a conduit or wire embracing seat operating. to resiliently urge said free ends into tensioned and. hooked interengagernent wheny the clip is clamped around the conduit or wires.,

l0. In a supporting clip for a conduit or wires, a resilient metal strap having a generally -circular conduit or wire embracing portion and separate portions extending youtwardly from the circular portions innorrnally spaced relation to one another and adapted to be hooked vtogether to close the clip and clamp it around the conduit or wires, at least one of said separate portions being provided with means for receiving a fastening for securing the clip to a. support, said outwardly extending portions embodying inter-engageable means .at their free ends for releasably hooking them together to retain the clip around the conduit or Wires, said inter-engageable means including a hook formed by the inward bending of the end of said one of said loutwardly extending portions toward the circular portion of said strap, the free end of the -other outwardly extending portion of the strap being constructed and arranged to snap into engagement with said hook upon pressing the same against the outer face of the hook and directly inwardly in a direction normal to the axis of the conduit or Wires re- A tained by the clip.

11. A fastener vdevice comprising a band bendable into the form of a closed loopandadapted to receive and hold an article such as Wire, the opposite terminal ends of said band being formed with cooperating interlocking hooked portions to resist separation of the ends in an expandible direction outwardly from the center of the loop, and means on the interlocking hooked portions for preventing lateral shifting of the interlocked 'ends laterally in the plane of the interlocked ends. f

12. A fastener device comprising a resilient member vbendable into the form of a closed loop and adapted to receive and hold an article such as wire, the opposite terminal ends of said member being formed with reversely hooked portions adapted to be interlocked together to resist separation of the ends inl an expandible direction out# wardly from the center of the"loop, and means in said hooked portions for preventing lateral shifting -of the interlocked ends laterally in a plane of the interlocked ends.

13. A fastener device comprising a bandbendable into the form of a closed loop and adapted to receive and hold an article such as wire, the opposite terminal ends of said band being formed with cooperating interlocking hooked portions to resist separation of the ends in an expandible direction outwardly from the center of the loop, one of said hooked portions being formed with a tongue and the other of said hooked portions being formed with a recess to receive said tongue for locking said ends together against relative shifting movement laterally.

14. A fastener device comprising a resilient band adapted to be connected at its opposite ends to form a loop to receive and hold a plurality of conductors, one of said band ends being formed with an inwardly hooked terminal portion and the other band end formed with an outwardly hooked terminal portion, said hooked terminal portions being formed with interlocking tongue and slot means preventing shifting of said ends laterally when in interlocked engagement.

15. A fastener device comprising a resilient band adapted to be connected at its opposite ends to form a loop to receive and hold a plurality of conductors, one of said band ends being formed with an inwardly hooked terminal portion and the other band end formed with an outwardly hooked terminal portion, said hooked terminal portions being formed with interlockingmeans preventing shifting of said ends laterally when in interloeked engagement and a strip of soft elastic material positioned along the inner face of said band, and means for securing said elastic mate- 'rial to saidbands adjacent the ends and inwardly of theV hooked ends thereof.

16. A fastener device comprising a band bendable into the form of a closed loop and adapted .to receive and'hold an article such as wire, the opposite terminal ends of said band being formed with interlocking hooked ends, said complementary hooked ends provided with inter-engagv ing means operative as a result of the interlock'- ing of said hooked ends for preventing relative sidewise movement of the interlocked hooked.

ends. y17. A fastener device comprising a resilient band adapted to be connected at its opposite end s to form a loop to receive and hold a plurality of conductors, one` of said band'ends being formed with an inwardly hooked centrally slotted terminal portion and the other band end formed with an outwardly directed hooked end, and an angularly disposed bead adapted to be positioned in the slot of the inwardly hooked end when the hooked ends are interlocked. l 18. A Vfastener device comprising a resilient band adapted to be connected at its opposite ends to form a loop to receive and hold a plurality of conductors, one of said band ends being formed with an inwardly hooked centrally slotted terminal portion and the other band end formed with an outwardly directed hooked T-shaped end, the stem of the T being adapted to be positioned within the slot of the inwardly hooked end when the hooked ends are interlocked.

19. A fastener device comprising a resilient band adapted to be connected at its opposite ends to form a loop to receive and hold a plurality of conductors, one of said band ends being formed with an inwardly hooked laterally spaced terf minal portion and the other band end being formed with an outwardly hooked end, and an angularly disposed bead adapted to be positioned between said spaced hooked terminal portions when the ends of said band are interlocked together.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 883,349 Ogden May 19, B 2,215,283 Adler Sept, 17, 1940 1,288,515 y COn DEC. 24, 1913 EUGENE M. MoREHoUsE. 

